Abbas condemns West Bank attack during US visit

WASHINGTON- Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Tuesday condemned from Washington a West Bank attack that killed four Israeli settlers, saying it was intended to "disrupt the political process."
The attack near Hebron, which was claimed by Hamas, came as Israel and the Palestinians prepared for direct talks in Washington, the first since December 2008.
"The Palestinian president and the Palestinian leadership have condemned the attack that occurred near Hebron, in keeping with our principle of rejecting all attacks against civilians, whether they are Israelis or Palestinians," said a statement issued by Abbas's press office from Washington.

"The goal of this attack claimed by Hamas is simply to disrupt the political process," the statement added. "It cannot be considered an act of resistance."
The shooting attack Monday night killed four Israelis near the West Bank Jewish settlement of Kiryat Arba and was claimed later by Hamas's military wing.
"Hamas blesses the Hebron operation and considers it as a normal reaction to the occupation crime," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement.
In Washington, aides to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he intended to tell his US hosts that the incident would not soften his negotiating position.
They said Netanyahu had ordered his security forces to hunt for the killers of the victims "without diplomatic restraint."
Abbas and Netanyahu are in Washington this week along with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah for a series of diplomatic events culminating Thursday with the first direct peace talks since December 2008.
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